The Sajjan Jindal-promoted company had reported a net profit of Rs 214.26 crore in the corresponding quarter last fiscal, a release said.

The company's total income grew by 3.49 per cent to Rs 2,558.32 crore in the June quarter against Rs 2,471.96 crore in Q1 FY14.

During the quarter, the company generated 5,006 million units and sold 5,606 million units.

The fuel cost for the quarter increased by 11 per cent to Rs 1,175 crore mainly due to adverse movement of the rupee-dollar exchange rates of the year-ago period, which was partially offset by a decline in the international coal prices of coal, the company said.

The Barmer plant load factor improved during the quarter while the Ratnagiri plant continued to witness low demand of power alongwith frequent back-down of units, it said.

While the company's Vijayanagar plant achieved average PLF of 98 per cent as against 102 per cent in the corresponding quarter of the previous year, Ratnagiri unit operated at 68 per cent as against 83 per cent, the release said.

The Barmer plant also achieved 92 per cent PLF as compared to 73 per cent a year-ago, it said.

On the outlook for the sector, the company said, "the power sector continues to reel under low off-take, falling tariff, increasing costs and fuel uncertainty. However, the new government appears to be focused upon addressing concerns around adequate fuel availability, power purchase agreements and thrust on T&D development which should augur well for the industry in the longer term."

The company further said the government's efforts to revive the investment cycle, faster implementation of reforms, addressing of supply-side bottlenecks coupled with global demand recovery should result in an improvement in manufacturing activities over the medium term.

"May 2014 industrial production grew by 4.7 per cent YoY, a 19-month high growth and with pick up in mining and manufacturing activities, we believe power demand should be better in 2HFY15," the release said.

On coal pricing, the company said, "imported coal cost is not expected to change materially as recent increase in coal import duty has been offset to some extent by marginal appreciation in the rupee. Pursuant to pick-up in economic activity, the pressures on margins from merchant sale are expected to ease for power developers."